Smithsonian.com

Before the Mississippi River defined the West, West Virginia was the frontier border. Before roads were mapped, the mountain trails were steeped in legend. The Midland Trail, crossing the country from Virginia and moving westward, was first carved by buffalo, deer and other animals that found water, food and salt supplies along its path. Later, American Indians followed in search of these important supplies. A little later, frontiersmen looked for homes in this country of hope. Today, the Midland Trail stretches from Greenbrier County with its historic sites and the Greenbrier Resort, through Fayette County, where whitewater rafting and outdoor adventure beckon visitors, and on to Huntington, a historic railroad town filled with eclectic museums.